US brewery makes beer inspired by former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams

A US brewery makes a controversial beer dedicated to former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.

Stay warm this weekend with a snifter of one of our Deep Wood Series barrel-aged beers available on draft at the Milwaukee Ave Brewpub and Kedzie Tap Room. Cafe Deth, Deth by Cherries, V.S.O.D. and Ryeway to Heaven will be flowing on draft at both locations The Brewpub will be open both New Years Eve & New Years Day, but the Tap Room will be closed both Sunday & Monday.

A post shared by Revolution Brewing (@revbrewchicago) on Dec 29, 2017 at 11:09am PST

Adams, a pivotal figure in the political life of Ireland for almost 50 years, was the inspiration for “Adam’s Best,” — an “earthy, lightly toasty, traditional Best Bitter” brewed by Chicago-based craft firm Revolution.

Revolution — Illinois’ largest independent craft brewery — was founded by former Goose Island brewer Josh Deth in 2010.

The new beer will be available year round from Revolution’s distribution partners in Illinois.

Adams stepped down from Sinn Fein in February 2018, after 35 years as leader of the party and a career which helped to shape Irish governance in the 21st century.

The 69-year-old Belfast native was elected in 1983, becoming one the island’s foremost figures in republicanism.

Though he is credited with leading the republican movement away from violent protests and towards a democratic, working relationship with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Adams has also been widely criticised for not not condemning murders carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) throughout his political career.

The paramilitary group is believed to be responsible for about 1,700 deaths during more than 30 years of violence, mostly in Northern Ireland, that became known as the Troubles.

The Sinn Féin leader has consistently denied that he was ever a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), but has said he will never “disassociate” himself from the organisation.

Revolution brews around 20 beers per year, including a Eugene Porter, Anti-Hero IPA, and a Cross of Gold Ale — named after The Cross of Gold speech delivered by William Jennings Bryan, a former United States Representative from Nebraska, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on July 9, 1896.